Sunday, February 17, 2013

1913 Armory Show: "That's Not Art!"

Fin de siècle is
done/As the modernists disrupt/Art’s “constitution.”

Today, February 17, marks the centennial of the historic 1913 Armory Show, about which former president Theodore Roosevelt ejaculated the above entitled quote in response to many works exhibited. The University of Virginia's American Studies Program has a fabulous website (with a virtual tour) dedicated to this momentous event in 20th century modern art--below is one of the paintings by American artist Kathleen McEnery Cunningham from "Gallery D." You may enter the site by clicking here.

I was in college during the "culture wars" of the 1980s--looking at this exhibit brings to mind the fact that these battles over what constitutes art continue on into the 21st century. VIVA ART!